External USB Removable Storage Drive Review:
Grass Valley REVPRO

If you aren't a fan of backing up to tape, or you're swapping out internal hard drives more often than taking out the garbage, you'll be happy to know that REV PRO is here.

Grass Valley has been making broadcast video gear for longer than most of us have been making video. Along with their array of reputable cameras and decks, Grass Valley also offers a removable media storage device, called the REV PRO. The REV PRO is specifically made for video producers who need a robust way to back up the mounds of data that video editing requires. Each disc allows for multiple levels of security, adding to the single level of protection of its consumer cousin, the Iomega REV. We tested an external, portable REV PRO drive with a removable 35GB disc. These are capable of supporting everything from DV to HDV to HD video, for playback and editing.

The REV PRO external USB model ships with one 35GB disc and all the usual suspects: an installation CD-ROM, user manual, AC power supply and a USB cable. The drive is an interesting piece; it feels inadequate at first due to its plastic enclosure, which bows under any firm squeeze. Most of the portable hard drives we have floating around the office have aluminum enclosures, so the REV PRO stands out. This was our only main qualm.

Along its thin sides, the REV PRO features blue, ribbed gripping strips. These are useful while handling the drive, and easily lured us into holding the unit at these points. The grip material is just soft enough to push a finger nail into its synthetic flesh and is bonded well with the enclosure. The front and back of the REV PRO drive are nice and simple. A drive door with a spring-loaded flap graces the front, along with an LED eject button. The eject button is stiff and responsive. A USB port and AC power input rest on the back, which will be a familiar sight to many users. No "pro-only" funny business going on here.

Two more features will likely bring relief to those of you in cramped editing station: stack-ability and lock-ability. The REV PRO has a nice horizontal ridge that secures multiple drives together when placed in a vertical stack. To lock down your device to the desk, two security slots allow for easy configuration with a Kensington lock. We like this extra security slot and wish we found it on more portable drives. However, it's what's on the inside that counts, right?

The REV PRO line is a sturdier, faster version of Iomega's REV product. When you insert a REV PRO disc, you are welcomed with a comforting sound as the disc is pulled into place. It is the sound of a well-crafted product made to fit together closely. So close in fact, when the disc locks into place, it is the equivalent of being in a class 200 clean room, leaving very little room for dust interfering with your disc platters. This is one feature that adds durability and distinguishes the product from a just any ol' typical drive. The 35GB disc seems very solid, with one exception. The red plastic accent on the back of the disc is removable, which might present a problem if it's not properly secured to the disc casing. We easily snapped it off and on and noticed it's rather durable. The main duty of this red plastic seems to be for labeling purposes, but we think it could be a liability if you're careless.

To the REV PRO's credit, nothing failed under normal use. Each disc comes in a nice Mini DV-like case that offers easy labeling and minimal protection against dust and moisture. You can expect to pay around $70 per disc, or a little less when purchasing them in larger packs of three or ten ($675). The REV PRO disc also allows for password protection. Choose from password security at the administrator level, called the Master password, or the individual User level.

The overall design is made to limit the risk of lost data, something that plagues most video editors from time to time. Grass Valley claims a 30-year archival life on their discs, even after millions of re-writes. While their warranty isn't of the 30-year variety, it is substantial. Each REV PRO disc is backed by a 5-year manufacturer's warranty and the drives are backed by a 2-year warranty.